In an effort to make construction in New York safer following two Manhattan
crane collapses in 2008 that killed a total of nine people, the Department
of Buildings spent $5.8 million to hire private consultants and implement
their recommendations, reported the New York Daily News (11.10.14).

However, a
recent audit by New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer‘s office found that a number of safety changes
were not implemented even though safety would have been improved. Four
years after the report was issued, only eight of the 65 recommendations
were fully in place. Seventeen other recommendations were partially implemented
and 18 were in progress.

Safety needs to be a top priority on any construction site.

CTL Engineers & Construction Technology Consultants (CTL) were the
experts hired by the Department of Buildings to prepare the safety report
after the two fatal crane accidents.

Safety is important on all construction projects for the protection of
workers, for a safe work environment and, even, for controlling construction
costs. Workers should not need to worry about their safety nor should
pedestrians or residents walking by or living near a construction site.
A dedicated commitment to safety also helps ensure project success and
can significantly impact the bottom-line. Injuries cause high dollar losses.
Implementing various safety procedures can help contractors and others
avoid these costs.

In March 2008, a construction crane toppled and smashed through several
residential buildings on E. 51st St., killing seven people and injuring
24. In May, a crane collapsed on E. 91st St., killing two construction
workers and critically injuring one.

At the time the study was green-lighted, buildings officials said they
would implement 49 of the 65 changes within two years, according to the audit.

According to the
New York Daily News, some changes that were not put into place include, “requiring a
technical adviser on a construction site during the assembly, climbing,
and dismantling of a tower crane; requiring site safety personnel to report
to the owner of a project instead of a contractor to avoid conflicts of
interest, and mandating inspections of hoisting systems holding more than
a ton.”

Department of Buildings officials disputed several of the findings and
told investigators they had fully implemented 30 of the recommendations
and partially implemented or were in progress on another 23, said the
New York Daily News.

The New York Daily News story cited is “EXCLUSIVE: Only 8 of 65 safety
fixes made after 2 deadly crane collapses despite millions spent, audit
finds.”